Sakada* is 30 years old and lives in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Three months ago, she lost a baby and the grief is still written across her face.
Her first baby girl was born healthy and is now eight years old. But her second and third babies were sadly stillborn.
The birth injuries Sakada sustained during the obstructed labours resulted in incontinence. She felt ashamed and embarrassed because she didn’t realise there were other women who experienced a similar condition.
When she sought help at the local hospital, they referred her to Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. Sakada and her husband walked four hours from their village to the bus stop, and travelled over 400km by bus to reach the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital.
On my way here, I felt hopeful that I could be cured
Sakada
Going home happy and healthy
Meeting other women at the hospital with obstetric fistula helped Sakada relax and feel optimistic.
She had her surgery in early February. After two weeks of recovery, Sakada had her catheter removed and found out the surgery had worked – her obstetric fistula has been cured!
On the day she was discharged from hospital, her friends gathered around her bed and the whole ward broke into applause to mark this happy moment. Nurse Aid Birchiko who had looked after her on the ward presented her with her surgery aftercare notes, a new dress to go home in and her Hamlin Fistula blanket.
Sakada’s message for Mother’s Day
I was so happy when they took the catheter out. I’m grateful for all the services that were provided here. I can’t wait to get home and see my eight-year-old daughter. I hope other women can come here to be cured like me. We have to be healthy for our children.
Thanks to your generous support, Sakada could be cured and return home to her daughter. Please make a donation to help other women like Sakada recover from preventable childbirth injuries.
* Patient names have been changed to protect the privacy of the women we serve
Image credits: Maheder Haileselassie
